The Supreme Court of India has rejected the plea for urgent hearing of the hijab case. The top court also said that the hijab controversy should not spread across the country. It will be heard when the time comes.
On Friday (February 11), the petitioner's lawyer filed an urgent plea in the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing of the case. A bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana dismissed the plea, saying, "We know what is happening, but was it necessary to drag this incident to Delhi? Think about it, if something goes wrong, we will protect you."
Earlier on Thursday (February 10), the Karnataka High Court had issued an interim order to open colleges without 'religious attire' in educational institutions until the case is disposed of. A student had filed a case in the Supreme Court challenging the order. In his affidavit, the student had claimed that the High Court's interim order raised questions about personal choice. In particular, the choice of Muslim female students was not given importance. The next hearing of the case in the court will be on February 14.
According to a news report in Anandabazar, a case is going on in the court against the government order on hijab. The case is being heard by a three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of the High Court. Before fixing the date for the next hearing of the case, Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi said that colleges in Karnataka can be opened, but since the matter is sub-judice in the court, students will not be able to enter the college wearing any kind of religious attire.
The court has directed the media not to report on word of mouth and the police have been instructed to maintain extreme restraint in their conduct with the Paduas and ensure law and order.
The court said it is considering whether wearing a headscarf falls within the scope of a fundamental right. It is also considering whether it is part of a religious practice.
Meanwhile, the state intelligence agencies have issued an alert to all police stations to ensure that no untoward incident takes place in West Bengal on the hijab issue. The alert has been sent to each police station through the Superintendent of Police and Commissionerate of all districts of the state. Because protests in support of the hijab have already started in several places in the state.
A school in Karnataka recently banned girls from wearing hijab. After this, there were allegations that several other schools were not allowing girls wearing hijab. Five students from Udupi, Karnataka, had approached the High Court against this ban. A hearing was held on Tuesday (February 8).
The hijab controversy at Karnataka's Mandya Pre-University College has shaken the entire country. The protests from Karnataka are now spreading across the country. Protests and demonstrations are going on regarding this. There have been huge protests regarding this in Kolkata as well. Various states of the country are on alert regarding this.
The Karnataka government has imposed Section 144 around schools and colleges in the capital city of Bengaluru to prevent any untoward incident. A government directive has said that Section 144 will remain in force till February 22. Anandabazar reports.
On Wednesday (February 9), Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said, "There is tension in the city. The possibility of fresh protests cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is essential to make proper security arrangements to maintain peace and order. In this situation, as a precautionary measure, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been imposed around schools and colleges."
He said that no gatherings or demonstrations will be allowed within 200 meters of educational institutions in Bengaluru until February 22.
